Blogging the Dalai Lama

The Dalai Lama has met with French President Nicolas Sarkozy (BBC article), France currently also holds the EU presidency, in Poland. The usual protests were lodged by the Chinese government. Mr. Sarkozy was in Poland for a meeting with nine EU eastern member states on the bloc’s climate change plans.

Boing boing’s Xeni Jardin has posted a long article today that points to a number of current sources.

Rather than repeat them here, you should view her post.

Sources indicate that hundreds may be dead and a thousand or more detained or jailed.

The Dalai Lama has (again) indicated he will resign his post as head of the Tibetan government in exile if violence continues. (This being in conflict with his wish for a continued nonviolent approach to Tibetan self-determination.) His Holiness has already stated that he considers himself to be “semi-retired” in that most of his responsibilities in terms of secular government have already been turned over to elected representatives. So such a move would be consistent with his professed plan to retire*. The question is whether it would improve the situation in Tibet.

*Retirement would, of course, only be from secular government, allowing His Holiness to pursue a life dedicated to study, meditation, and teaching.

Though there are many sources of current information on the unrest in Tibet, these seem to be providing the best video and information:

BBC (use their search box to look up Tibet) <- This is the broadest coverage currently available. Also see specific BBC reports and videos below.

New York Times (use their search box to look up Tibet)

CNN (use their search box to look up Tibet video)

You know it’s important if China has blocked YouTube!

Also see Students for a Free Tibet.

And Phayul.com

BBC has a page that includes links to a number of interviews (with video) with The Dalai Lama.

Specific BBC items (video):

• BBC video Unrest in Tibet spreads
• BBC video Exclusive Interview with the Dalai Lama
• BBC video Chinese troops patrol the city of Lhasa
• BBC video Chinese footage…

AP Photo from Davos

Elie Wiesel at the Davos economic summit 2008. Full article from CNN “Davos elite leaves, fearing dark days”

Wiesel, drew loud applause at the closing debate by also calling for Beijing to ease restrictions in Tibet, a demand that appeared to embarrass China Mobile boss Wang Jianzhou, another of the co-chairs at Davos.

“I would like China to open its doors to the Dalai Lama, so I can accompany him to Tibet,” Wiesel said.

If you’re interested in more on Davos, there are lots of sources, but you can easily check CNN’s Davos coverage.